of state, aggressively defending gun rights and trying to take down defense secretary nominee chuck hagel. >> have you been paid by a foreign government. >> it is unusual for a freshman to be this outspoken en a high profile issue. >> at the end of the day, i was elected to represent 26 million texans and to speak the truth. you know, i think a lot of americans are tired of politicians in washington in both parties who play games. >> reporter: the 42-year-old cuban american from texas, studied the principles and memorized the constitution as a teenager thanks to his father, a cuban refugee. he became splis ter general of texas, arguing for state rights and religious freedom before the u.s. supreme court. tea party activist bucked the gop establishment to help elect cruz. >> he's the total package. he's a great messenger for ideas, a true believer and a guy you never have to wonder about how he's going to vote. >> reporter: conservatives in texas may be ecstatic he's so aggressive so fast, but for some senior republican senators, not so much. what are guiding principles of the senate for a